Apple is cooking up something wild for the Apple Watch—built-in cameras! According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the tech giant is deep into R&D, figuring out how to squeeze cameras into its watches as part of its grand AI-powered future. If all goes to plan, we could see a camera-equipped Apple Watch hit the shelves by 2027.
Cameras on Your Wrist? Apple’s Got a Plan
Apple isn’t just slapping a camera onto the watch and calling it a day. The plan is to integrate it differently for the standard Series and the rugged Ultra models. The regular Apple Watch might get an in-display camera, similar to the front-facing shooter on an iPhone. Meanwhile, the Ultra version could feature a camera near the digital crown and side button—an area with more space, making it easier to use for object scanning and other AI-powered tricks. Given the Ultra’s chunkier build, Apple has more room to play with when it comes to camera placement.
AI + Cameras = Next-Level Smartwatch
The whole idea ties into Apple’s AI ambitions, specifically its Apple Intelligence system that rolled out with iOS 18.1. This AI can already recognise objects, landmarks, and deliver context-based info using a camera. Now, imagine a watch that can “see” the world around you, helping with everything from quick scans to real-time assistance—pretty cool, right?
Apple’s AI-Powered Future Goes Beyond the Watch
This isn’t Apple’s only AI-infused hardware project. Gurman previously reported that Apple is also working on AirPods with infrared cameras, expected by 2026. These next-gen AirPods could offer gesture controls and environmental awareness, especially when paired with the Apple Vision Pro headset.
All of this is part of Apple’s grand plan to build its own AI ecosystem rather than relying on third-party services like ChatGPT and Google’s AI models. The company is going all-in on its Visual Intelligence platform, which could become the backbone of future Apple devices.
So, if things go according to plan, by 2027, you might be snapping pics from your wrist and controlling your AirPods with just a wave of your hand. The future is looking pretty futuristic!
